John Bunting (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Bunting, AC
, KBE
(3 March 19182 May 1995) was a senior Australia
n public servant whose career culminated with his appointment as Australian High Commissioner to the UK.
, in 1918. He was educated at Trinity Grammar School and later at Melbourne University
, and graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts
, Honours.
He began his Public Service career in 1940 and served in successive positions with the Department of Trade and Customs and the Department of Post-war Reconstruction.
In 1950 he was appointed to the Prime Minister's Department as assistant secretary. In a distinguished career he was made secretary to that department in 1959, a position he continued to hold until 1968. From 1971 to January 1975 he again served as Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He served successive Prime Ministers: Sir Robert Menzies
, Harold Holt
, John McEwen
and Gough Whitlam
.
In 1975 Sir John left the Prime Minister's Department after being appointed to serve as High Commissioner in London. He served there until 1977.
He died in Sydney
on 2 May 1995 at the age of 77.
in the Coronation Honours of 1 June 1953.
In the New Year's Honours of 1961 he was upgraded to Commander of the Order (CBE).
In the New Year's Honours of 1964, he was knighted (Knight Bachelor).
In the New Year's Honours of 1977, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
On Australia Day 1982, Sir John was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(3 March 19182 May 1995) was a senior Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n public servant whose career culminated with his appointment as Australian High Commissioner to the UK.
Biography
Edward John Bunting was born in Ballarat, VictoriaBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, in 1918. He was educated at Trinity Grammar School and later at Melbourne University
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, and graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Honours.
He began his Public Service career in 1940 and served in successive positions with the Department of Trade and Customs and the Department of Post-war Reconstruction.
In 1950 he was appointed to the Prime Minister's Department as assistant secretary. In a distinguished career he was made secretary to that department in 1959, a position he continued to hold until 1968. From 1971 to January 1975 he again served as Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He served successive Prime Ministers: Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
, John McEwen
John McEwen
Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH , was an Australian politician and the 18th Prime Minister of Australia...
and Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
.
In 1975 Sir John left the Prime Minister's Department after being appointed to serve as High Commissioner in London. He served there until 1977.
He died in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 2 May 1995 at the age of 77.
Honours
John Bunting was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the Coronation Honours of 1 June 1953.
In the New Year's Honours of 1961 he was upgraded to Commander of the Order (CBE).
In the New Year's Honours of 1964, he was knighted (Knight Bachelor).
In the New Year's Honours of 1977, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
On Australia Day 1982, Sir John was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AC).
Titles from birth to death
- Until 1 June 1953: Mr John Bunting
- 1 June 195331 December 1960: Mr John Bunting, OBE
- 1 January 196131 December 1963: Mr John Bunting, CBE
- 1 January 196431 December 1976: Sir John Bunting, CBE
- 1 January 197725 January 1982: Sir John Bunting, KBE
- 26 January 1982 death: Sir John Bunting, AC, KBE